Maine Family-Owned Factory Cranks Out Rolls Of ‘White Gold’ As Demand For Toilet Paper Soars

Matthew Niquette of Millinocket keeps the rolls coming. Niquette gained 12 years of experience at the mill in Lincoln before it closed in 2015. (Nick Woodward/Maine Public)

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the panic-buying of certain items, notably paper products – and toilet paper in particular. Some stores have sold out, others have resorted to rationing – in some cases to just one roll per customer.

The sudden demand for what some are calling “white gold” is proving to be a challenge – and an opportunity – for one fledgling family business in a part of Maine that has struggled through hard times in the paper industry.

“It’s been insane. I don’t sleep much.” And that’s how it’s been for Marc Cooper and his son Jake since their toilet paper start-up in Bangor, Tissue Plus, was launched into go-mode this month.

“So unfortunately, we weren’t quite prepared for this to happen so quickly,” Cooper says, “but we’re doing our best to meet the demand. We’ve been very fortunate that there’s been a good work force available.”

Shouting over the factory din is Jeff Clement. “Try to make sure they go in there nice and straight. If they get crooked it’ll mess everything up,” he yells over the noise of a special machine – one we’re not allowed to describe, and that does something we’re not allowed to detail because they are trade secrets.

Read the rest of this story at Maine Public’s website.